TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-L532M of HP dv1331se won't stay closed

I can't get the CD-ROM drive of Hewlett Packard dv1331se to close and stay that away.

It seems like the locking mechanism isn't just working. Drive won't stay closed for a moment.

This machine is the one of a kind that gets moved a lot and travels through different airports and whatnot weekly.

I've found same model drives on ebay going for 17$ and up used. Before I go with a new drive, I'd like to hear if anyone had a issue like this one with their laptop computers.

And my second questions is, if I do make the purchase, how difficult would it be for me to replace a laptop drive. I had no issues replacing a battery or a stick of RAM. Do I really need a technician to replace a cd-rom drive?

Steps taken to try and fix:

1)Putting a CD-rom drive inside
2)Taken off the bezel plate (front panel) and ... putting it back on
3) Shut Down/Restart PC
4) Looking for any damaged or broken pieces that make up the drive.